By Nick Butler

Rory McIlroy won his second successive Major title at the US PGA Championships ©Getty ImagesRory McIlroy continued his meteoric rise to all-time great status by winning his second successive major title after a thrilling final round of the USPGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club.


The Northern Irishman fired a three-under par 68 to finish with a 16-under par score of 268 and edge five-time major winner Phil Mickelson by one shot, with Sweden's fourth-ranked Henrik Stenson and rising American star Rickie Fowler two adrift.

But the scoreline barely scratches the surface of the actual intensity of the dual, with McIlroy struggling in the early stages and at one point being three shots behind before rallying with customary brilliance on the back nine.

The fightback began with a 274 yard second shot which set up a successful seven-foot eagle putt on the par-five 10th hole, followed by further birdies on the 13th and 17th holes before a two-putt from 61 feet on the 18th to confirm his triumph.

The final also included a moment of great sportsmanship when, due to the rapidly fading light, Mickelson and Fowler stood aside on the fairway to allow the final group, which included the Northern Irishman, to play behind them. 

Rory McIlroy celebrates in fading light on the 18th green ©Getty ImagesRory McIlroy celebrates in fading light on the 18th green ©Getty Images



Following his victory at the British Open last month, McIlroy becomes the first man to win two majors in a row since Padraig Harrington triumphed in the same two in 2008, while he also becomes the fourth-youngest man to win four titles, after Scotland's Young Tom Morris, who did so between 1868 and 1872, and, more recently, US duo Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus.

After winning his first two majors, at the 2011 US Open and 2012 USPGA, by eight shots, before a relatively comfortable two-shot victory at the British Open, this was by far his tightest victory, and was thus further evidence of his great fighting qualities. 

"I didn't think in my wildest dreams I would have a summer like this," he said.

"To win a fourth major here, to be one behind Phil [Mickelson], one behind Seve [Ballesteros], level with Ernie [Els], level with Raymond Floyd, I never thought I'd get this far at 25 years of age.

"It's something that I'm just going to have to come to terms with.

"I was happy being a two-time major champion coming into this year, and all of a sudden I'm a four-time major champion."

As well as further endorsement for McIlroy, the final day was also a great advertisement for the USPGA Championship, often considered the least important of the four majors, after by the far the most exciting finale of the four this year. 

There will now be an eight-month wait until the next major, when McIlroy will attempt to win again at Augusta National Golf Club from April 9 to 12, but in the meantime his focus will be on the Ryder Cup from September 26 to 28 at Gleneagles. 

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